Pacific nets two area stars

SALIDA - Neither player can recall who was the first to say they would sign with Pacific, but the Modesto Christian teammates agreed on this much.

Richard T. Estrada

SALIDA - Neither player can recall who was the first to say they would sign with Pacific, but the Modesto Christian teammates agreed on this much.

"When we started talking to one another about college, we thought it was a great idea for both of us to sign with Pacific," 6-foot-5 Raymond Bowles said. "We play different positions, so we're not competing for the same job. It's always good to have a friend there."

So Bowles and T.J. Wallace signed national letters of intent to play basketball for the Tigers - in the final year for coach Bob Thomason. Pacific declined comment until today.

"It's going to be fun for me, going back home," said Wallace, a 6-4 jack-of-all-trades who led McNair High to the NorCal Division II playoffs last year. "When Ray and I began talking, we both listed Pacific as one of our schools. We kept talking, and it made sense."

Wallace, The Record's All-Area Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, and his family have moved to Salida, so he wouldn't have to sit out games as a transfer for Modesto Christian this season. He averaged 19.7 points, 3.5 assists, 2.4 blocks, 3.7 steals and 14.2 rebounds as a junior at McNair while playing every position.

"I was the tallest player, so I filled in where I was needed," said Wallace, who had games of 37, 32 and 30 points.

Wallace is expected to focus on the point guard role with the Crusaders, while Bowles starts at forward. Wallace was recruited for a similar role at Pacific, and Bowles is versatile enough to fill multiple roles for the Tigers.

"One thing that convinced us to both sign with Pacific was academics," Wallace said. "If you get a degree at a school like Pacific, it's going to help set up your future."